Method of and apparatus for mining by drilling, coring, and breaking



A. BARRETT 2,776,809 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MINING BY DRILLING,CORING AND BREAKING 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 8, 1957 Filed May 19, 1953INVEN TOR: ARTHUR LEE BARRETT BY MW ATTORNEY A. 1.. BARRETT METHOD OFAND Jan. 8, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19. 1955 l v mu m T E R N-R0 Wm T m n gz I 1. & N X 3 ,m R K M/F Q mm MN m 33 g N. R m mm m l uh vo. m g Q R Q Q R R g R m N OE v R m 9. fin. N .l 5.1T a g m N\ I I N\ ax M I a I m\\ \w\ m \M\ NM Mfi N3 I A I 6; Aw mm ms t i. .3 Q R QN 5? Em Rb w w I OI Q Jan. 8, 1957 A. L". BARRE 2,776,809

. METHOD OF AND APP TU OR MINING BY DRILLING, COR AND BREAKING Filed May19, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR'. ARTHUR LEE BARRETT ATTORNEY A. L.BARRETT 2,776,8 9 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MINING BY DRILLING, CORINGAND BREAKING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 8, 1957 Filed May 19, 1953 ATTORNEYMETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MINiNG BY DRILLING, CORING', AND BREAKINGArthur Lee Barrett, Franklin, assignor to Joy Manufactoring Company,Pittsburgh, Pa. a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 19, 1953,Serial Not 355,975 11 Claims. (Cl; 262-9 This invention relates, fromone aspect, to a mining apparatus and more particularly to a continuousmining apparatus for dislodging and disintegrating the coal or othermineral from a solid coal, seam or mine vein and for loading thedisintegrated coal oio'ther mineral as mining progresses. The invention,from another aspect, relates to a method of mining. g

In the mining of coal or the like in underground mines it has becomecommon practice to mine the'coal or other mineral from the solid coals'e'am or mine vein without the usual steps of drilling and blasting,and for continuously loading the disintegrated coal or other mineral asmining progresses. Most known types of continuous miners embodydislodging and disintegrating mechanism whereby the solid coal or otherrriineral is ripped or torn by orbitally moving cutters from the face orthe mineral is cut away from the ,face by a seiies of rotary diillssolely by a rotary drilling process, and it is within the contemplationof'the present invention to provide an improved dislodging and di'sintegrating'meclianism for removing the coal from the solid seam with adrilling, coring and breaking action so that the ratio of cutting tobreaking is substantially reduced thus to increase the efficie'ncy ofmining to a substantial de ree. Also, the dislodging and disintegratinghead mechanism of the present invention is relatively simple and ruggediii design and economical in operation in comparison with those of siichknown types of machine's. I An object of the present invention is toprovide an improved continuous mining apparatus for dislodg'ing mineralfrom a solid mine vein without the necessity of drilling and blasting.Another object is to provide an improved dislodging anddisintegratingmechanism .for a continuous mining apparatus. Yet another object is toprovide an improved mechanism for dislodg'ing coal or other mineral froma solid seam or min'evein comprising a combined drilling and corecutting disk or rotary disklike head carrying cutters both on its frontface and circular peripheral edge whereby the coal maybe cut anddislodged from the solid in an extremelyefiective manner. c A furtherobject is to provide an improvddislodging m echanism for removingmineral from .a solid niine vein by working alternately back and forthin succ "sive' sectors of the face. Still ahother' object is to prov dea rotary disk type cutting head whereby th'r'nineral may be drilled byan axial motion of the head and thereafter may be cut and broken away bya lateral swinging motion at the head. A further object is to provide animproved combined rotary drilling head and core cutter. another objectis to provide an improved rotary disk type core cuttinghead havingimproved core breaking means associated therewith. A further objectis toprovide an improved rotary disintegrating head rota c I miner togetherwith an improved means for s the head agii'ally into the solid coal andfor moving said head arcuate ly back and forth levels across the coa1face to area d1 can. Aabther' object is is rewar. an iiniarovedmtho"2,776,809 liatented Jan. 8, 1957 2 of mining coal or othr minerals fromthesolid. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will,however, hereinafter more fully appear. 7 I In the accompanying.drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration one form andseveral modificati'ons thereof which the invention, from its apparatusaspect, may assume in practice.

paratus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view showing amodified form of dislodgingand disintegrating head.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing another modifiedconstruction. I c

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. s v

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail longitudinal vertical section taken on line6-6 of Fig. 1. 1 I

Fig. 7 is an enlarged central longitudinal vertical section taken online 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail cross section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4.c

. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a. horizontal section taken on theplanes of.

line 10-10 of Fig. 7. A

Fig. ll is a deta of line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic plan view and Fig. 13 is a.

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic end view illustrating the various cutting andbreaking positions of the dislodging and disintegrating head employed inthe removal of the coal from the face in accordance with the improvedmethod. c

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic side View showing difierent operatingpositions of the dislodging and disintegrating head while making aseries of arcuate cuts for removing superimposed segmentsof coal fromthe coal seam in accordance with the improved method.

The improved mining apparatus. as shown in the drawings, generallycomprises a mobile base it having a frame 2 on which is mounted ahorizontal frame 3 swivelled at 4- on' a vertical axis to swing inhorizontal planes with respect to the base frame, and this swivelledframe carries a gathering or fioo'r clean-up mechanism 5, an elevatingand loading conveyor means 6, and a dislodging and disintegrating headmechanism generally designated 7.v The gathering mechanism 5 and thedislodging and disintegrat ing mechanism 7 are swin'gabie horizontallywith the frame 3 relative to the base, and the dislodging anddisintegrating mechanism 7 is pivotally mounted at 8 on the swivelledframe to swing in vertical planes relative tothe swivelled frame andbase. The elevating and loading conveyo'r means 6 has a tiltable andhorizontally sv'vingable rear portion 9 whe'reby th'e discharge end ithe cenv'eyihg means may be located at the, desiredheight and lateralposition. The gathering mechanism 5 istiltable in vertical planes abouta horizontal transverse axis at 11 so that it may be elevated from thefloor 'd'uri'ng trans- P j T he mobile base 1 is herein desirably a.crawler base comprising the base names when is mounted on side crawlerframes 12 about which conventional endless ii vertical section taken onthe planes:

crawler treads 13 are guided for orbital circulation, and these treadsmay be separately or concurrentlydriven by motors 14 to effectpropulsion and steering of the base in a well-known manner.

The elevating and loadingconveying means 6 comprises an endless flightconveyor 16 having upper and lower runs and provided with a centraluniversal type drive chain 17 carrying series of spaced flights-18 andguided for orbital circulation along suitable guideways provided by thebase frame 2 and the swivelled framefi. The tiltable gathering mechanismmay assume various, forms but herein for illustrative purposes has atiltable frame 19 at the sides of which are mounted endless chain typegatherers 20 including orbitally moving gathering chains 21 havingflights 22 provided with socketed lugs for receiving conventional cutterbits 23. These gathering chains move orbitally along the sides and atthe front of guide frames 24 at the floor level to effect gathering ofloose material on the mine floor both during lateral and forward endwisemovements of the gathering mechanism, and the connected between theswingable frame and the tiltable' frame 19 are conventional fluid jacks26 pivoted at 27 on the swingable frame and containing usualpistons having their piston rods 23 pivotally connected at 29 to the tiltableframe. By supplying fluid under pressure to the jack cylinders the frame19 may be swung in vertical planes about its pivot to raise and lowerthe gathering mechanism with respect to the mine floor. Evidentlyvarious other appropriate known types of gathering mechanisms may beemployed in lieu of that disclosed.

The horizontally swingable frame. 3 has a circular bearing portion 30formed with an inwardly directed annular flange 31 swivelly mounted onsuitable bearings 32 carried by an upstanding bearing support portion orupper swivel mounting 33 of the base frame 2. The conveying means hasits horizontal forward frame portion 34 swivelled at 35 on vertical axesaligned with the swivel axis of the swingable frame 3 so that theforward portion of the conveyor may swing horizontally relative to thebase frame with the gathering mechanism 5 andthe dislodging anddisintegrating mechanism 7.

The swinging means for the swivelled frame 3 comprises an annularcircular plate 36 secured as by keys 37 to a cylindrical member 38having a reduced cylindrical shank 39 fitted within a bore 4 in theupstanding bearing portion 33 of the base frame and desirably Weldedthereto (Figs. 5 and 10). This annular plate has gear segments 41 at itssides with which the teeth of reciprocable racks 42 mesh. The rack teethare formed on the inner sides of piston rods 43 to the oppoiste ends ofwhich are secured reciprocable pistons 44 which are contained inparallel fluid cylinders 45 carried by theswivelled frame 3 at oprposite sides of the swivel axis. Fluid under pressure may be properlysupplied to these cylinders under the control of a conventional valvemeans to effect simultaneous opposite movements of the pistons to movethe racks insupports desirably formed integral with the swivelled frame3. A fluid jack 51 has a cylinder 52 pivotally mounted at 53 on theswivelled frame 3, and reciprocable in this cylinder is a piston54having its piston rod 55 pivotally connected at 56 to the rear end ofthe boom frame.

When fluid under pressure is properly supplied in this cylinder the boomframe may be swung upwardly and downwardly about its pivot as desired,and by trapping fluid within the cylinder the boom frame may be lockedin adjusted position. The boom frame has a tubular forward portion 57and extending axially through this tubular portion is a.trausmissionshaft 58 journaled in bearings 59 and 60 supported within the boomframe. The shaft 58 extends'forwardly in advance of the boom frame abovethe conveying and gathering mechanism (Fig. 7) and detachahly secured at61 to the outer end of this shaft is a disklike cutting anddisintegrating head 62 located a substantial distance forwardly inadvance of the gathering mechanism 5. This cutting and disintegratinghead has an annular peripheral portion 63 and spaced arm portions 64extending radially from a hub 65, and the peripheral portion and theradial arms carry suitable cutter bits or teeth 66. The peripheralportion, the arms and the hub are so formed as to provide a generallyconvex front face 67, and the rear surface of the head is plane at 68perpendicular to the axis of head rotation. Open spaces 69 are providedbetween the radial arms internally of the annular'peripheral portion 63and the dislodged and disintegrated coal or other mineral may flowthrough these spaces or openings as the head is sumped into the face. Acore breaker arm 7tlhas a hub 71 mounted on and keyed at 72 to the shaft58, and the outer portion of this breaker arm has a socket 73 forreceiving the shank of a detachable cutting and breaking element 74.This cutting and breaking element is inclined forwardly and outwardlyfrom the shaft with its outer portion located near the periphery of thedislodging and disintegrating head rearwardly of the latter, as shown inFig. 7.

The driving means for the transmission shaft 58 herein for illustrativepurposes comprises a pair of horizontal motors 77 mounted at the sidesof the swivelled frame 3, and keyed to the motor shafts 78 are spurpinions 79 meshing with and driving spur gears 80 keyed to longitudinalshafts 81 suitably journaled within gear housings 82 integral with theswivelled frame 3. Fixed to these shafts 81 are worm gears 83 meshingwith Worm wheels 84 (see also Fig. 10) secured to aligned horizontalshafts 85 extending transversely of and suitably journaled within thegear housings 82. These aligned shafts are arranged in coaxial relationwith the swivel mounting for the boom frame 47. Secured to the innerends of these aligned shafts are bevel gears 86 meshing with and drivinga bevel gear 87 keyed to the rear end of the transmission shaft 58.

The breaker arm 70 rotates with the disklike head 62 and as the disklikehead forms a core in the mineral of the solid vein, as the boom frame isswung horizontally, the breaker arm impinges against the core anddislodged it from the face,in the manner shown in Fig. 14.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the breaker arm 70' turns in thesame direction as the disklike head 62 but at a somewhat slower speed sothat the kerf or slot in the solid mineral is substantially deeper thanin the embodiment above described thereby forming a relatively largecore which may easily be broken off by the breaker arm due to increasedleverage of the longer core. In this construction the transmission shaft58 has a spur gear 89 fixed to it and this gear meshes with planetgearsv 90, herein desirably three in number, journalecl on shafts 91carried by arotatable carrier 92 desirably formed intcgral with the armhub 71. The planet gears mesh with an intern'alfgear 93 rigidly secured,as by screws 94, to the forward portion of the tubular boom frame 47.

- The arm hub is -jonrnaled on bearings 95 supported by grasses disklik.head 62 and ,thetforwardportionof this sleeve is rigidly fixed to theshaft to revolve with the disklike headandis provided with suitablyformed peripheralcuting teeth .97. A breaker wedge .98 projectsrearwardly from the rear planefa-ce ofthe disklike head and has itswedging face inclined inwardly and rearwardlyin the manner shown. As the.core is formed by the disklike headduringhorizontal swinging .of theboom frame it is engaged by the wedge '98 and the peripheral teeth 97and is thus effectivel y dislodg d. The plane rear face .of the head, asthe latter is moved arcuately across the face, will act at 99 on thecore to .aidin dislodging the core.

In the several illustrative embodiments of the invention the disklikedislodging and dis ntegrating head 62, as stated above, is detachablyconnected at 61 to the front end of the transmission shaft 58 and thisdetachable connection comprises a shaftlike projection 100 extendingaxially rearwardly from the rear plane face of the head and fittedwithin a socket 101 formed within the forward portion of the shaft andthere is a keyed connection 102 between the shaftlike projection and thesocket walls for interlocking the head for rotation with the shaft. Theshaftlike projection is held within the socket as by means of screws103. As shown in 'Fig. 7 a cylindrical sleeve 1.0.4 surrounds thetransmission shaft between the rear face of the head and the forwardsurface of the hub 71 of the breaker arm and this sleeve is secured tothe shaft as by a series of radial screws 105. In Fig. 3 a similarcylindrical sleeve 106 surrounds the transmission shaft between the rearface of the head and the inner race of the front bearing 95 for the hubof the breaker arm. In the embodiments shown in Figs. 3 and 7 breakerwedges 98', similar to the breaker Wedge 98 shown in Fig. 4,, projectrearwardly from the rear head face, and in the several embodiments aplurality of these breaker wedges may be used if desired.

The gathering chains 21 of the gathering mechanism 5 may be driven invarious manners but are herein desirably driven by motors 110 mounted onthe tiltable frame 19 and which drive, through conventional speedreducers, longitudinal shafts 111 suitably journaled within the tiltableframe 19 (see Fig. 11). Secured to these shafts are .worms 112 whichmesh with and drive worm Wheels 113 secured to upwardly and outwardlyinclined shafts 114 likewise journaled within the tiltable frame. Keyedto the upper ends of these shafts 114 are chain sprockets 115 whichengage and drive the gathering chains 21.

' The endless conveyor 16 of the conveying means 6 is, in thisillustrative construction, driven by a pair of motors 117 mounted at theopposite sides of the swingable and tiltable rear portion 9 of theconveying means, and these motors are operatively connected to a reardrive sprocket 118 (Fig. 1) about which the rearward portion of theconveyor chain 17 passes. The forward receiving portion 25 of theconveyor passes around a front idler roll 119 (Fig. 7) mounted on atransverse shaft 120 suitably supported within the tiltable frame 19 ofthe gathering mechanism 5. As shown in Fig. 7, the swivelled frame 3.has 'a longitudinal passageway 121 extending above the conveyor andbeneath the upstanding bearing support 33 for the base frame 2, so thatthe dislodged coal or other mineral moved onto the conveyor by thegathering mechanism 5 may be conveyed rearwardly in the space betweenthe upper swivel mounting for the swingable frame 3 and the lower swivelmounting 35 for the forward swingable portion of the conveyor frame. Asshown in Fig. 5 the base frame 2 has upstanding side arms or sideportions 122 which straddle the conveyor and which supportthe upperbearing support 33, and these upstanding side portions are secured tothe inner sides of the crawler frames 12.

The general mode of operation of the improved continuous miningapparatus is as follows: The apparatus may be trammed about the mineunder the propulsion of the treads 13 of the crawler base 1, thesetreads being driven hy ithe fmOtOr-S 1'4 whieh may be controlled toeffect .drive of :the itreads -at relatively diiferent'speeds to.efiectsteering of the "apparatus. During transport the boom frame '47and the dislodging and disintegrating head 621are:desirably :located inthe central horizontal longitudinal position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 andthe gathering mechanism i5 is held upwardly in tilted position above theamine floor as indicated in dotted lines in 'Fig. 2. When the workingface is reached the apparatus is located centrally of the face, as shownin Figs. 12 and 13, and'the motors 77 maythenbe operated to effect rapidrotation of the dislodging and disintegrating head. The boom frame maythen 'be swung upwardly by its hydraulic .jack 51 to locate-thedislodging and disintegrating head at the roof level as indicated at Ain Fig. 16, and the crawler base may then be operated to propel theapparatus forwardly toward the face to sump the head axially within thesolid mine vein to the position indicated at B in Fig. 17. The boomframe may then be swung horizontally by the swing cylinders 45 to movethe head arcuately horizontally along the face to the right handposition indicated at C in Fig. 16, and as the head moves horizontallyarcuately along the face it cuts out cores of mineral which areperiodically dislodged from the face either by the breaker arm and wedgeor by the combined action of the rear plane face of the head, the wedgeand the centrally located peripheral teeth on the head sleeve rearwardlyof the head, as above described. When the dislodging anddisintergr'ating head assumes its right hand position at the roof theswing cylinders 45 may be operated to swing the head arcuately acrossthe face from right to left to the position indicated at D in Fig. 16thereby to com plete the removal of a horizontal segment of mineralacross the face near the roof level. The boom frame jack 51 may then beoperated to swing the boom frame downwardly about its pivot to move thedislodging and disintegrating head arcuately in vertical planes at theleft hand rib or side of the mine passageway to the position indicatedat E in Fig. l6 and thereafter the boom frame may be swung horizontallyby the swing cylinders 45 to move the head arcuately across the headfrom left to right to the position indicated at F at the right hand ribor side thereby to remove the subjacent horizontal segment of mineralfrom the vein. The boom frame may then again be swung downwardly by itsswing jack 51 to move the head arcuately in vertical planes to theposition indicated at G in Fig. l6 atthe floor level. The swingcylinders 45 may then be operated to swing the boom frame horizontallyto move the head arcuately from right to left at the floor level to theposition indicated at H in Fig. 16, to remove a parallel horizontalsegment of mineral from the face at the floor level thereby to completethe removal of the section of mineral from the solid. The dislodging anddisintegrating head may then be swung back to central position, swungupwardly to the roof level and the base may be advanced to locate theapparatus in a new position, and

the operations above described may then be repeated.

Evidently, the dislodging and disintegrating head 62 may besumped intothe face of the vein at the floor level and moved successivelyhorizontally and vertically to re move sectors of mineral from the facein superimposed planes at different elevations thereby to effect removalof the face section, and under certain conditions the head may be movedsuccessively in vertical planes between the fioor and roof instead of inhorizontal planes as above described.

As the dislodging and disintegrating head is moved horizontallyarcuately back and forth across the face during the core cutting anddislodging operation the gathering mechanism 5 moves horizontallyarcuately therewith at'the floor level so that the dislodged mineral;

whichfalls directly down in front of or upon the gathering mechanism maybe gathered and moved by the gathering chains onto the conveyor. As theapparatus is advanced toward the face the forward portions of thegathering chains at the floor level gather the loose material from thefloor and as the head is swung horizontally successively in oppositedirections across the face the side portions of the gathering chains atthe floor level serve to gather the loose material from the floor. Thecutter bits or teeth 23 on the flights of the gathering chains maycutaway any upstanding projections or uneven portions at the floorthereby to level up the floor during the dislodging and gatheringoperaions of the apparatus, and the particular arrangement of thegathering mechanism enables cleaning up of the floor close to the sidesor ribs in an effective manner.

Evidently, if desired, the disklike disintegrating head 62 may beswivelly mounted on a sliding frame which is shiftable horizontallyrectilinearly relative to the swiveled frame on the base in a mannersimilar to that disclosed in the Russell and Sibley applications, SerialNo. 102,995 and Serial No. 102,996, both filed on July 5, 1949, owned bythe same assignee as the present invention. Also instead of theprovision of the sliding support the boom which supports thedisintegrating head may be made telescopic with hydraulic extension in amanner similar to that disclosed in the Joseph F. Joy Patent No.2,229,086, dated January 21, 1941, also of common ownership, to effectsumping and retraction of the head. Thus with either such modifiedstructure the disintegrating head may be sumped axially into the mineralwhile the base remains stationary and sumping may take place in anyangular position of the head with respect to the base. For simplicity,however, the sliding support or the telescopic boom has been omitted inthe present machine and the entire machine is advanced to effect sumpingof the head in the manner above described.

As a result of this invention an improved continuous mining apparatus isprovided whereby the coal or other mineral may be effectively mined outfrom the solid and continuously loaded out without the need for drillingand blasting. By the provision of the improved rotary disklike drilling,core cutting and dislodging head the mineral may be dislodged from theface in relatively large lumps with a minimum of actual cutting of themineral, the disklike head, as it is swung horizontally arcuately acrossthe face, forms cores of mineral which are periodically dislodged fromthe face and loaded out, The rotary drilling and dislodging head by theprovision of cutters on its front face as well as at its circularperipheral edge may be easily sumped axially into the solid vein andthen moved arcuately in successive sectors of the face to removesegments of coal from the solid with a coring and breaking action,substantially improving the efficiency of mining from the solid. By theprovision of the improved gathering mechanism which has not only agathering function but, to some extent, a cutting function the Iloor iseffectively levelled and cleaned up as the dislodging head is swunghorizontally across the face. By operating the drilling and dislodginghead in accordance with the novel method described, removal of the coalfrom the solid is effected rapidly and efiiciently, and with theproduction of a relatively large percentage of desirable lump coal orother mineral. Other modes of use and advantages will be clearlyapparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described one form andseveral modifications which the,

invention, from its apparatus aspect, may assume in practice and onemode of practice of the invention, from its method aspect. it will beunderstood that these forms and modifications are shown for purposes ofillustrations and that the invention may be further modified and embodied in various other forms, and operated in accordancewith othermethods, without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appendedclaims,

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a rotary dislodgingand disintegrating head of circular form operating in generally uprightplanes about an axis extending toward the face of a mine vein, saidrotary head having cutters on its front face and about its circularperipheral edge, means for rotating said head about said axis, means forfeeding said head axially to sump the same into the mineral of a solidmine vein as said head is rotated, and means for swinging said rotatinghead arcuately from its sumped position to form an arcuate kerf insideof the face of the mine vein to form a core of mineral, said headswinging arcuately generally in a direction at right angles to the axisof head-rotation, said head comprising an annular peripheral portion, acentral hub portion and radial arms connecting said peripheral portionto said hub portion, said cutters being mounted at said peripheralportion and on said arms, and the spaces between said arms providingflow passages for the discharge of dislodged mineral as said head is fedaxially during sumping.

2. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising amobile base, a frame swivelly mounted on said base to swing horizontallyrelative thereto, a dislodging and disintegrating head for dislodgingmineral from a solid mine vein, said head being provided with axialboring means and lateral core cutting means for effecting boring of ahole in a mine vein with a rotary boring action and for cutting a kerfinside of the face of the mine vein to form a core of mineral in thevein with a lateral core cutting action, said head embodying means forbreaking off the core of mineral as the head is moved laterally, meansfor moving said head axially to effect its rotary boring action, meansfor mounting said dislodging and disintegrating head on said swiveledframe and comprising an elongated boom extending outwardly in advance ofsaid base and swingable horizontally with said frame and pivoted toswing vertically relative to said frame, said head having its axisaligned with the longitudinal axis of said boom and effecting itslateral core cutting action during such horizontal and verticalmovements thereof with said boom, and means for swing ing said framehorizontally to swing said mounting means horizontally therewith and forswinging said boom vertically to effect the lateral core cutting actionof said head.

3. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said dislodging anddisintegrating head is in the form of a rotary cutter journaled at theouter portion of said boom and said head is rotatable in generallyupright planes with its axis extending toward the face of the mine vein,and cutters are carried on the front face and at the outer peripheraledge of said head.

4. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said lateral swingingmeans for said head includes said means for swinging said head arcuatelyboth horizontally and vertically along the face of the mine vein fromits position inside of the coal face at the completion of the bore tocut an arcuate kerf inside the face, said head swinging arcuately withsaid boom as aforesaid generally in a direction at right angles to theaxis of head rotation.

5. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a mobile base, arotary drilling and dislodging head comprising a rotatable drilling anddislodging member having cutters on its front face and about its outerperipheral edge, means for mounting said head on said base foradjustment relative thereto including a swingable boom frame, a rotatingshaft journaled within said boom frame for supporting and driving saidmember, said shaft having its axis of rotation aligned with the boomframe axis, means for rotating said shaft irrespective of the angularposition of said boom frame, means for feeding said head axially to sumpthe same into the mine of the face, means for swinging said boom framelaterally relative to said base to move said head both horizontally andvertically to cut arcuate kerfs substantial distances inside of the faceto form cores of mineral, and means carried by said boom frame in axialalignment therewith for dislodging the cores as cutting progresses, saiddislodging means comprising a rear plane surface on said headperpendicular to the axis of rotation of said shaft, said rear planesurface acting on the cores of mineral cut by said head during arcuatemovement of the latter to effect outward displacement of the cores fromthe face of the mine vein.

6. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising amobile base having a frame, a frame swivelly mounted on said base frameto swing horizontally relative thereto, a drilling and core cuttingmechanism for drilling and coring the mineral of a solid mine vein andfor dislodging the mineral, means for moving said drilling and corecutting mechanism axially relative to the working face of the mine vein,and means for pivotally mounting said drilling and core cuttingmechanism on said swivelled frame and including an elongated boomextending outwardly in advance of said base, said boom mounted to swinghorizontally with said swivelled frame and laterally vertically withrespect thereto, said drilling and core cutting mechanism aligned withthe longitudinal axis of said boom and effecting drilling of a hole inthe mineral when advanced axially toward the face and effecting cuttingof kerfs to form cores in the mineral wholly inside of the face and fordislodging the cores when said mechanism is swung laterally andarcuately relative to the face.

7. A method of dislodging coal or other mineral from a solid mine veincomprising the steps of inserting a rotary cutter having face andperipheral cutting means axially into the face of the vein, moving thecutter arcuately along the face successively in horizontal and verticalplanes to form arcuate kerfs inside the face to provide cores ofmineral, and periodically breaking of the cores outwardly from the faceduring either the horizontal or vertical direction of cutting.

8. A method of dislodging coal or other mineral from a solid mine veincomprising the steps of inserting a rotary cutter having face andperipheral kerf cutting means axially into the face of the vein, movingthe cutter arcuately to cut kerfs inside of the face back and forthacross the face successively along superimposed parallel i0 paths indifferent sectors of the face to form cores, and moving the cutterarcuately in vertical planes to out similar kerfs to form cores at thesides of the face at the end of each arcuate cut and prior to thesucceeding superimposed cut.

9. A method of dislodging coal or other mineral from a solid mine veincomprising the steps of inserting a rotary cutter having face andperipheral cutting means axially into the face of the vein, moving thecutter arcuately back and forth across the face successively alongsuperimposed parallel paths in different sectors of the face, moving thecutter arcuately in vertical planes at the sides of the face at the endof each arcuate cut and prior to the succeeding one of the superimposedcuts, the rotary cutter as it moves arcuately forming an arcuate kerfinside of the face to provide a core of mineral, and periodicallydislodging the core outwardly from the face as cutting progresses.

10. A method of mining mineral from a solid mine vein comprising thesteps of sumping a rotary drilling and core cutting instrument havingface and peripheral cutting means axially into the mineral, moving thesumping instrument arcuately laterally successively in horizontal andvertical planes to make arcuate cuts inside the face to form cores ofmineral, and applying an outward dislodging force to the inner sides ofthe cores to dislodge the latter outwardly from the face as miningprogresses.

11. A method as defined in claim 10 wherein said instrument is movedsuccessively in opposite directions arcuately across the face to removesuperimposed segments of mineral from the solid vein.

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